"Knightly" News

October

• 4: Progress Reports & Dashboards Sent Home
• 4: Purple Game
• 11: Popcorn Friday
• 14: PTO Meeting, Media Center - 4 pm
• 14-17: School Safety Week
• 18 & 21: Fall Break - No School
• 22: PTO - Decorate Lobby for Halloween, 3 pm
• 28: PTO - Halloween Snack Prep, 9 am
• 28: Pumpkin Decorating Contest
• 29: Picture Retakes
• 31: Trail for Treaters (set up - 1:45 pm) & Halloween Parade - 2:15 pm

Congratulations to the following students for being chosen as their classroom's PRIDE winner this week!

P - Positive Attitude

R - Responsible Actions

I - Integrity Within

D - Determination to Succeed

E - Expect Excellence

Kindergarten: Colin Kastran, Leo Haist, Catherine Minser

1st grade: Alexander Fricke, Bentley LeClear, Greyson Peebles

2nd grade: Lucy Kowalski, Hailey Sisson

3rd grade: Maddie Hanson

4th grade: Shayne Summers, Charlie Dennis, Audrey Durbin

5th grade: Alexa Miller, Lorali Warren

Our WatchD.O.G.S. program will officially begin for the 2024-25 school year in October. “Dads” (or dad-like figures) who are interested in signing up to volunteer for a full or half day should contact Angie Bender (abender@otsegops.org) via email to schedule a date.

When you volunteer, you will receive a schedule for the day that allows you to help out in different classrooms doing a wide range of activities (reading a story, working with a child 1:1 on work, playing a game with a small group). You will also have scheduled time on the playground and lunchroom to interact with students and be a positive role model for them. We need a current background check on file before you are able to volunteer.

Our PTO meets on the second Monday of each month at 4 pm in the Media Center. Join us on Monday, October 14th, as we finalize plans for our special Halloween festivities!

Our first Popcorn Friday is just a week away! Popcorn will be available for $1 per bag, or you can prepay $5 for the entire year. To ensure we have enough popcorn, please submit your payment by the Thursday before each Popcorn Friday.

Washington Street Elementary is excited to announce a Costume Swap! This is a great opportunity to exchange your gently-used Halloween costumes for something "new-to-you." We are currently accepting donations and "shopping" times are listed below.

Halloween is just around the corner, and we are thrilled to bring back our Halloween Parade & Trail for Treaters on Thursday, October 31! The costume parade will take place inside the building, at 2:15 pm, with spectators watching from the gymnasium.

The Trail for Treaters will feature stations throughout the building, giving parents a chance to hand out candy to students. Click on the sign up below to reserve a spot along the parade route to set up your station for candy distribution. Think of it as a "Trunk or Treat"—just without the trunks! 😉 Please plan to bring 460 treats. Set up begins at 1:45 pm.

Students should bring their costumes to school and will change before their classroom parties and the parade. It is important that your child can put on their costumes independently.

A quick reminder: Costumes must be non-violent, and weapon accessories or scary masks are not allowed. Additionally, due to allergies, spray-painted hair is prohibited.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

During October, my classroom counseling lesson was on the Zones of Regulation. This is a research-based curriculum that evidence has shown works to help children understand and regulate emotions. The curriculum aims to teach children about self-regulation and how to strengthen their self-regulation skills. Self-regulation can go by many names, such as self-control, self-management, and impulse control. Self-regulation is an essential skill in life and all learning environments.

The Zones of Regulation program groups all the ways that children feel and act into four “Zones.”

Blue Zone - when your body is running slowly, such as when you are tired, sick, sad or bored

Green Zone - when you are ready “good to go,” you feel happy, calm and focused

Yellow Zone - when you feel your engine running high, such as when you are frustrated, overwhelmed, silly, wiggly, excited, worried, anxious or surprised

Red Zone - when you feel out of control, you have extreme feelings such as terror, uncontrolled anger, or aggression

Zones of Regulation focuses on two areas. First, our students will learn how their emotions and attention are connected, and then how to recognize emotions in themselves and others. They learn that they move through their zones throughout the day and can improve their control over their zones through practice.

The second area of Zones of Regulation teaches about tools for changing from one zone to another and encourages each child to build a repertoire of tools. The goal of the curriculum is for children to gradually become more able to call upon their toolkit, rather than needing adult help to regulate.

None of the zones are considered “bad” or “naughty.” All of the zones are expected at one time or another. Your child was taught these zones and some tools that they want to use to help them move from one zone to another. We will continue to practice the Zones of Regulation at school throughout the year. We encourage you to discuss the zones with your child and help him or her recognize what zone they are in and what tools they could use to regulate their emotions or zones.

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

Attendance Line: (269)694-7880

WSE BASE: (269)694-7835

Email: jknight@otsegops.org
Website: http://wse.otsegops.org/
Location: 538 Washington Street, Otsego, MI, United States